Camping Les Clarines

It’s fairly fortunate that spa submerges at La Bourboule are so close to the site, for there are many ways around here to tire oneself out... Hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails crisscross these mountainous parts, including the GR 30 accessible just 50 metres away. This fine long-distance path runs for almost 200 kilometres around the volcanoes and lakes of Auvergne and the Puy-de-Dôme, winding upwards to 1,845 metres for the sturdy of leg (and down to 700 metres for the less so). To aim downwards at headier speed, the Mont-Dore ski station is 10 minutes’ drive from the site. Local waterfalls, 10 lakes within 20 kilometres, and the splendid Vulcania theme park 40 minutes’ drive away should also be on any sensible to-do list in the region; to tick famed mountains off the itinerary too, drive 45 minutes to the 40 or so domes and cones making up the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.